Sri Lanka’s hard-hitting batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa has not been included in the three-T20I squad for India to be played later this week. According to NewsWire, Rajapaksa was a part of a hotel bio-bubble scheduled to travel to India but the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to drop the 30-year-old last-minute due to fitness issues.
The middle-order batter passed the 2KM fitness test last week but is yet to achieve the necessary skinfold levels set by the board. The Colombo-born batter had earlier asked the board for permission to play in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 but his request was denied due to the T20I series in India.
Earlier Rajapaksa was picked by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for his base price of Rs 50 lakh in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction.
In January 2022, Rajapaksa had announced his retirement from international cricket. Reportedly, he took the decision because of fitness standards set by the board. The decision shocked many including former Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga, who urged him to reconsider his decision. The left-handed batter retracted his retirement and was expected to make his return to international cricket with Sri Lanka series.
So far, Rajapaksa has played a total of 18 T20Is and scored 320 runs from 15 innings at an average of 26.66. His tally of runs in the format includes two half-centuries with a high score of 77 against Pakistan in October 2019.
The T20I series against Sri Lanka will begin on February 24 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The following two T20Is will be played on February 26 and 27 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.
Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lankan side recently lost the five-T20I series against Australia by 4-1. After four consecutive losses, Sri Lanka managed a consolation win on February 20. Initially, the T20I series was not part of the tour. It was added later on the request of Sri Lankan board.
Sri Lanka T20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kamil Mishara, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ashian Daniel
